Abstractcorbate might protect against the lung damage caused by cigarette smoking. 5 However, the Background -Fresh fruit consumption and vitamin C intake have been associated effects are not confined to smokers 1 3 and in one study appeared to be stronger in subjects with improved lung function in adults. Whether this is due to enhancement of lung who had never smoked and to be present in young adults, suggesting that other biological growth, to a reduction in lung function decline, or to protection against broncho-mechanisms may be required to explain reduced ventilatory function in subjects with a spasm is unclear. Methods -In a cross-sectional school low fruit intake.2 Strachan suggested that the relationship in adults might be an indirect rebased survey of 2650 children aged 8-11 from 10 towns in England and Wales the flection of an influence of diet on lung growth in childhood. In adults it has also been sugmain outcome measure was forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) gested that any effect may be much greater amongst asthmatic subjects.1 standardised for body size and sex. Exposure was assessed by a food frequency We have examined the cross-sectional relationship between reported frequency of fresh questionnaire to parents and by measurement of plasma levels of vitamin C in a fruit, salad, and green vegetable consumption and lung function in 9-11 year old children subsample of 278 children. Results -FEV 1 was positively associated from 10 British towns. In addition we have examined the interactions with wheeze, and with frequency of fresh fruit consumption. After adjustment for possible confounding the relationship between plasma vitamin C levels and lung function in a subsample. We variables including social class and passive smoking, those who never ate any fresh have focused on fresh fruit because it is both an important source of vitamin C and may be fruit had an estimated FEV 1 some 79 ml (4.3%) lower than those who ate these more important in accounting for individual differences in intake, and because of the eviitems more than once a day (95% CI 22 to 136 ml). The association between FEV 1 and dence linking infrequent fresh fruit consumption to reduced lung function in adults. restricted to subjects who wheeze and to selected. Within each school 50 children aged identify the specific nutrient involved. Department of9-11 were invited to participate.

LDL cholesterol levels had an impact on arterial distensibility in the first decade of life. Furthermore, the functional differences in the arterial wall were demonstrated within the lipid range found in normal children, a finding that raises the possibility that cholesterol levels in the general population during childhood may already be relevant to the development of vascular disease.